Travel restrictions, border shutdowns by countries: Coronavirus

Countries around the world have taken drastic measures, including border closures, in an attempt to curb COVID-19. Countries around the world are increasingly adopting sweeping measures to stem the spread of the new coronavirus, including shutting down airports, imposing travel restrictions and completely sealing their borders.

The outbreak of the coronavirus has been labelled a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Below is a list of countries that have taken such measures in recent days. Travellers should visit government websites for updated information and more details.

Algeria
The government said it would suspend air and sea travel with Europe from March 19. Authorities had previously halted flights with Morocco, Spain, France and China.

Antigua and Barbuda
According to a March 12 travel advisory published on the Antigua Barbuda Tourism Authority’s website, foreign nationals who have travelled to China, Italy, Iran, Japan, South Korea and Singapore in the previous 28 days will not be allowed to enter the country.

Diplomats were exempted. Any cruise ship with suspected cases may also be blocked from docking.

Argentina
With more than 55 confirmed cases, Argentina announced on March 15 that it would close its borders to all non-residents for at least two weeks, and all flights from the United States and Europe would be cancelled starting March 16.

Australia
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on March 19 that the country’s borders will close to all visitors, except for citizens and permanent residents and their close family members.

Morrison declared a “human biosecurity emergency” on March 18 and said the country’s citizens should abandon all overseas travel.

“We are upgrading the travel ban on Australians to level four for the entire world. That is the first time that has ever happened in Australia’s history,” he said, adding it is “an indefinite ban”.

On March 15, Morrison had said international travellers arriving in the country would need to isolate themselves for 14 days, and foreign cruise ships would be banned for 30 days.

Austria
On March 13, Austria’s government said it would introduce border checks with Switzerland and Liechtenstein and ban flight connections with France, Spain and Switzerland.

On March 19, the landlocked Alpine republic announced that it was extending controls from its borders with Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Liechtenstein to Hungary and Slovenia.

Borders remain open only with the Czech Republic and Slovakia under the European Union’s Schengen scheme.

Bangladesh
Bangladesh suspended flights to all European destinations except the United Kingdom. The flight ban came into effect on March 16 and will remain in place until March 31.

Belize
Belize has closed most of its ports of entry, but its Santa Elena Border and Philip Goldson International Airport remain open, according to the country’s Ministry of Health. Cargo vessels may continue to use all ports of entry.

Bolivia
Starting from March 18, Bolivia banned travel from Europe’s Schengen zone, the UK, Ireland and Iran. Previously, it had barred travellers from Spain, China, South Korea and Italy. The country has also implemented strict border measures, including medical screenings.

The measures will remain in place until March 31, the government said.

Brazil
Brazil decided on March 19 to restrict entry of foreign visitors at land borders with Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Suriname and French Guiana, following a similar restriction at the Venezuelan border.

The restriction will last for 15 days and will not apply to foreigners with permanent residence in Brazil, diplomats and international agency officials, as well as trucks transporting goods, the presidential chief of staff office said.

Bulgaria
Turkey’s land border with Bulgaria has been closed to entry and exit of passengers, state broadcaster TRT Haber said on Wednesday.

A TRT reporter said the gates were still open for logistics.

On March 15, Bulgaria’s Ministry of Transport said it would ban incoming flights from Italy and Spain as of midnight (22:00 GMT) on March 17. Rosen Zheliazkov also said Bulgarians who wanted to return home from these countries would have March 16 and 17 to do so and would face a 14-day quarantine.

Cameroon
On March 17, the government said it shut down land, air and sea borders indefinitely, starting from March 18. International flights were grounded, with the exception of cargo planes.

Canada
On March 16, Canada announced it was closing its borders and denying entry to anyone who is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, except for immediate family members of Canadian citizens, aeroplane crew members, diplomats, and US citizens.

On March 18, the US and Canada said they were closing their border to all non-essential traffic. Trade is not affected, the countries’ leaders said.

Most international flights to Canada will be directed through four airports starting on March 18. Domestic flights and those arriving from the Caribbean, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Mexico and the US will be exempted.

Chile
Chile announced that it will shut its borders to non-resident foreigners starting March 18 for an undetermined period. Any citizen returning from high-risk areas must quarantine for 14 days.

Colombia
Colombia announced that starting on March 16 it would ban the entry of all foreigners who had been to Europe or Asia in the past 14 days, with the exception of foreign residents and diplomats. All land, air and sea borders will remain shut until May 30. This includes its border with Venezuela where thousands of migrants and refugees cross daily.

Costa Rica
After declaring a state of emergency, Costa Rica Border announced it would close all borders to foreigners starting on March 18.

Croatia
On March 12, the Croatian government announced a series of restrictions on international border crossings. Foreign arrivals from hard-hit countries, such as Italy and China, are required to spend 14 days in quarantine facilities.

Authorities also implemented health monitoring for passengers from many countries affected by the virus, including Spain, the US and Sweden. Travellers from these countries should self-isolate for two weeks. Find out more here.

Cyprus
On March 13, Nicos Anastasiades, president of the Republic of Cyprus, said the country will shut its borders for 15 days to all but Cypriots, Europeans working on the island, and people with special permits.

The measure would come into effect from March 15, he said in a state address.

Czech Republic
The Czech prime minister said on March 12 the country would close its borders to travellers from Germany and Austria and ban the entry of foreigners from other high-risk countries.

Czechs were prohibited from travelling to those countries, and to and from and other countries deemed risky, effective from Saturday (23:00 GMT on Friday).

The full list includes other European Union members Italy, Sweden, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Denmark, as well as the UK, Switzerland, Norway, China, South Korea and Iran. International public transport vehicles with more than nine seats will also be banned from crossing borders.

Denmark
On March 13, Denmark said it would temporarily close its borders to non-citizens.

“All tourists, all travel, all vacations, and all foreigners who cannot prove a creditable purpose of entering Denmark, will be denied entrance at the Danish border,” Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said. The closure would not apply to the transport of goods, including foods, medicine and industrial supplies.

Dominican Republic
The government said on March 14 that on March 16 it would suspend all flights from Europe and the arrival of all cruise ships for a month.

Djibouti
On March 15, Djibouti said it was suspending all international flights.

Ecuador
Starting March 16, borders were completely closed, including to citizens and residents, for 21 days.

Egypt
Egypt will suspend all air traffic at its airports from March 19 until March 31, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said on March 16.

El Salvador
El Salvador shut down its airport on March 16 to all commercial flights. On March 11, it had banned entry to all foreigners, excluding accredited diplomats and legal residents of the country. Those allowed to enter were subject to a possible 30-day quarantine.

Finland
On March 17, Interior Minister Maria Ohisalo said Finland will start heavily restricting traffic over its borders on March 19.

Georgia
On March 15, Georgia’s government said it will temporarily shut its border with Russia for travellers from March 16.

“This decision would not apply accordingly to the citizens of the Russian Federation and Georgia who wish to return to their home country,” the Georgian government said on its website. Restrictions will not apply to freight traffic.

Germany
On March 15, Germany said would temporarily introduce border controls on its frontiers with Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg and Denmark from March 16.

The entry restrictions were expanded to include flights from Italy, Spain, Austria, France, Luxembourg, Denmark and Switzerland, the interior ministry said on March 18. The new entry restrictions also apply to sea transport from Denmark, an interior ministry spokesman said.

Ghana
Starting on March 17, Ghana banned entry to anyone who has been to a country with more than 200 coronavirus cases in the previous 14 days, unless they were official residents or Ghanaian nationals.

Greece
Greece on March 14 banned all flights that were still operating to and from Italy until March 29.

On March 15, it had said it would ban road and sea routes, as well as flights to Albania and North Macedonia, and ban flights to and from Spain to stem the spread of coronavirus. Only cargo and citizens who live in Greece will be allowed to travel to and from Albania and North Macedonia, authorities said.

Athens also extended travel restrictions to Italy, saying it was banning passenger ship routes to and from the neighbouring country, while no cruise ships will be allowed to dock at Greek ports. Greece said it would put anyone arriving from abroad in quarantine for two weeks.

Turkey’s land borders with Greece has been closed to entry and exit of passengers as a measure against the coronavirus outbreak, state broadcaster TRT Haber said on Wednesday.

A TRT reporter said the gates were still open for logistics.

Grenada
All arriving travellers who have visited Hong Kong, China, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Iran, Italy or Germany in the last two weeks will be subject to quarantine, the Miami Herald reported on March 17.

Guatemala
Guatemala banned all non-resident arrivals and suspended all flights from March 16 to 30 except for cargo. It also banned cruise ships from docking. On March 17, the country also announced it was suspending all deportation flights from the US.

Guyana
Starting on March 18, all airports were partially closed for 14 days. The closure mainly affects international passenger flights, local media reported.

Haiti
On March 19, Haiti’s government declared a state of emergency over the coronavirus outbreak, closing the borders of the nation and imposing a curfew after authorities detected the first two cases of infection.

It has also suspended all international flights, except for those coming from the US, and it closed its border with the Dominican Republic.

Honduras
Honduras has ordered all borders closed except for cargo.

Hungary
Hungary will close its borders for international passengers, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told Parliament on March 16.

India
On March 18, India said it would suspend the vast majority of visas to the country. Millions of foreign nationals of Indian origin, who are traditionally granted visa-free access, will now also need to apply.

The advisory said anyone with a “compelling reason” to travel to the country could contact their nearest Indian mission. It also urged Indian nationals to avoid all non-essential travel abroad.

On March 17, India had suspended issuing visas to citizens of France, Spain and Germany until further notice. Such restrictions were already in place for citizens of China, Italy, Iran, Japan and South Korea – the five countries worst hit by the outbreak of the virus.

National airline Air India said on Wednesday it was suspending flights to Italy and South Korea until March 28 and March 25, respectively. India has also closed a border with neighbouring Myanmar.

Iraq
Iraq suspended flights at its domestic airports from March 17 to 24. On March 15, Iraq suspended all flights to and from Baghdad international airport over the same period.

Italy
In Italy, government officials placed the country of 60 million people on lockdown on March 10 in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus.

The restrictions will run until April 3.

People flying into Italy are subject to temperature screening at Italy’s major airports, and the country has suspended flights from China and Taiwan.

Jamaica
Jamaica has imposed travel restrictions on travellers from Iran, China, South Korea, Italy, Singapore, Germany, Spain, France and the UK, local media reported. The government also said anyone arriving from countries where there is community spread will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days.

Jordan
Jordan on March 17 closed border crossings with Israel and the Israeli-occupied West Bank and its seaports to shipping from Egypt. It also barred overland passenger traffic from Iraq.

The government banned travel to Lebanon and Syria and also barred entry to travellers from France, Germany and Spain. The measures included reducing airline service by half to Egypt.

Kazakhstan
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on March 15 declared a state of emergency, barring entry to the country for everyone except returning citizens, diplomats and those invited by the government. Kazakhs are also barred from leaving the country.

Kenya
Kenya suspended travel from any country with reported COVID-19 cases.

“Only Kenyan citizens and any foreigners with valid residence permits will be allowed to come in, provided they proceed on self-quarantine,” President Uhuru Kenyatta said.

Kuwait
Authorities banned all commercial passenger flights to and from Kuwait.

Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan on March 17 said it would ban entry to all foreigners.

Latvia
Latvia stopped nearly all foreigners entering the country while all international travel, by air, rail, sea and road, was cancelled. Latvians and foreigners with residency rights in Latvia are able to enter the country.

Lebanon
The Lebanese government on March 11 announced the suspension of flights from Italy, Iran, China, and South Korea.

On March 12, the Lebanese government made the decision to close indefinitely all land border crossings into Syria.

Libya
Libya’s UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli suspended all flights at the Misrata Airport for three weeks. Border closures have also been closed.

Lithuania
Lithuania on March 16 shut its borders to nearly all foreigners. Lithuanian citizens were also banned from leaving the country, except for business trips. The ban, which has exceptions for truck drivers, diplomats and people passing through the country on their way home, will be in force until March 30.

Madagascar
Starting from March 20, there will be no commercial passenger flights to and from Europe for 30 days. Travellers arriving from affected countries must self-quarantine for 14 days.

Malaysia
Malaysia shut its borders to travellers and restricted internal movement from March 16 until March 31.

Maldives
The government banned entry to travellers from China, Italy, Bangladesh, Iran, Malaysia and the UK, as well as to those coming from specific regions in Germany, France and South Korea. All direct flights to China, South Korea and Italy have also been suspended.

Mali
Mali will indefinitely suspend flights from countries affected by the virus starting on March 19, with the exception of cargo flights.

Moldova
Moldova temporarily shut its borders and suspended all international flights from March 17.

Morocco
On March 14, Morocco said it would halt flights to and from 25 countries, extending an earlier ban that covered China, Spain, Italy, France and Algeria.

Nepal
As of March 14, all foreign nationals who enter Nepal must remain in self-quarantine for 14 days, according to the country’s Department of Immigration.

Nepali nationals and residents must stay in home quarantine for 14 days from their arrival date. All these measures are in place until April 30.

The country has stopped issuing on-arrival visas to foreigners from March 14 through April 30.

Netherlands
On March 13, the Dutch government announced the suspension of flights from “risk countries” – including mainland China, Hong Kong, Iran, Italy and South Korea.

The ban is in place until at least March 27.

New Zealand
From March 19, New Zealand will close its borders to all non-citizen or non-permanent resident.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on March 15 everyone arriving in New Zealand will require to self-isolate for 14 days, excluding people from the Pacific Islands.

Nigeria
On March 18, the government announced it was restricting entry into the country for travellers from China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Japan, France, Germany, the US, Norway, the UK, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Those coming from high-risk countries are asked to self-isolate for 14 days.

Norway
On March 14, Norway said it would shut its ports and airports from March 16, although exemptions will be made for Norwegians returning from abroad as well as for goods.

The country also said it will implement extensive controls of its land entry points, but will not shut its 1,630km (1,000 miles) border with neighbouring Sweden.

Oman
Oman suspended tourist visas from all countries and banned cruise ships from docking. From March 18, it enforced an entry ban on all non-Omanis, including expatriates with residency visas.

Pakistan
On March 13, Pakistan shut all its land borders and decided to limit international flights.

“It has been decided that all borders will remain closed for 15 days,” Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told the local ARY and Dunya TV networks. “International flights will operate only out of Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad airports.”

Pakistan had already stopped flight services to and from Iran.

Panama
On March 16, the government announced that only Panamanians and foreign residents would be allowed to enter the country.

Paraguay
On March 14, Paraguay suspended flights from Europe until at least March 26. It has also restricted traffic across Friendship Bridge, which connects the country with Brazil, to authorised cargo traffic.

Peru
After declaring a state of emergency on March 15, Peru announced it would shut down its border for at least 15 days starting on March 16. The measure includes the cancellation of all commercial international flights into the country.

Philippines
A month-long lockdown on Luzon – the largest Philippine island home to nearly 60 million people – is in place, while domestic and international flights have been cancelled until April 14.

Poland
On March 13, Poland said it would ban foreigners from entering the country from March 15 and impose a 14-day quarantine on its citizens returning home. Those with a residence permit in Poland would also be allowed to enter, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said.

No international inbound flights or trains would be allowed from March 15, except for some charter flights bringing Poles back from holidays.

Qatar
On March 15, Qatar said it would ban inbound flights, with the exception of cargo and transit flights, starting from March 18. The entry ban does not apply to Qatari citizens.

Russia
On March 14, the Russian government said it was closing the country’s land border with Poland and Norway to foreigners.

It said the closure would apply to all foreigners passing through those border points for tourism, study, work or private visits. Citizens of neighbouring Belarus and official delegations were exempt.

Saint Kitts and Nevis
The Caribbean country asked anyone who has travelled to China, Italy, Iran, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, the UK, France, Germany and Spain to not visit, the Miami Herald reported. If an individual does arrive from one of these countries, he or she must go through a 14-day quarantine.

Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia imposed restrictions on travellers arriving from France, Germany, Spain, the UK, China, Japan, South Korea, Italy and Singapore, according to local media.

Saudi Arabia
On March 15, Saudi Arabia suspended all international flights for two weeks.

Serbia
On March 19, Serbia closed its airport and said it will shut all road and rail borders other than to freight traffic, as well as halt all internal passenger transport in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Passenger flights were banned from Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla airport for the first time since 1999 when flights were halted during the NATO bombing of the country and the war in Kosovo.

The airport remains open only for humanitarian flights and planes with special permits. Serbia had already barred flights to and from the airport in the southern city of Nis.

Singapore
As of March 15, “all new visitors with recent travel history to France, Germany, Italy and Spain within the last 14 days will not be allowed entry into or transit through Singapore”, according to officials.

Singapore residents and pass-holders who have been to those countries in the past 14 days will be issued a “Stay-Home Notice”, which will require them to quarantine for two weeks.

Slovenia
Slovenia on March 11 said it was closing some border crossings with Italy and began making health checks at those remaining open. Passenger train transport between the two countries was also cancelled.

South Africa
South Africa barred entry to foreign travellers arriving from or transiting through high-risk countries, including Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Germany, France, Switzerland, the US, the UK and China.

South Africans were also advised to cancel or postpone all non-essential foreign travel.

South Korea
On March 17, South Korea said it would tighten border checks for all overseas arrivals. The government had already imposed strict border checks on visitors from China, Italy and Iran, requiring them to sign up by a smartphone application to track whether they have any symptoms, such as fever.

Spain
On March 16, the Spanish government announced the closing of its land borders, allowing only citizens, residents and others with special circumstances to enter the country.

Direct flights from Italy to Spain have been banned until March 25.

Sri Lanka
On March 17, Sri Lanka said it would ban all incoming flights for two weeks.

Sudan
On March 16, Sudan closed all airports, ports and land crossings. Only humanitarian, commercial and technical support shipments were excluded from the restrictions.

Suriname
Suriname closed all its land and sea borders on March 14.

Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago closed its border to foreigners for 14 days beginning on March 17, local media reported. Nationals will be allowed to enter the country but will be subjected to quarantine.

Tunisia
Tunisia, which declared 24 cases of the virus, closed mosques, cafes and markets, closed its land borders and suspended international flights on March 16.

Tunisia also imposed a curfew from 6pm To 6 am starting on March 18, Tunisia’s president said, tightening the measures to counter the spread of coronavirus.

Turkey
Turkey’s land borders with Greece and Bulgaria have been closed to entry and exit of passengers as a measure against the coronavirus outbreak, state broadcaster TRT Haber said on Wednesday.

A TRT reporter said the gates were still open for logistics.

The government is suspending flights to and from several countries, including Germany, France, Spain, Norway, Denmark, Austria, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, China, South Korea, Iran and Iraq.

Ukraine
Ukraine said on March 13 that foreign nationals would be barred from entering the country.

United Arab Emirates
The government indefinitely suspended flights to and from Lebanon, Turkey, Syria and Iraq from March 17.

United Kingdom
The government on March 17 advised citizens “against all non-essential travel worldwide”, initially for a period of 30 days.

United States
The US has banned the entry of all foreign nationals who have travelled to China, Iran, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK or Ireland 14 days before their arrival.

US citizens or permanent residents who have visited a high-risk area must fly into one of the 13 international airports with enhanced entry screening capabilities.

On March 18, President Donald Trump announced that it would close its northern border with Canada “by mutual consent” to non-essential traffic such as tourists and other visitors.

Uruguay
On March 15, Uruguay announced it would ban all flights from Europe starting March 20. Earlier, it had mandated that passengers from China, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Iran, Spain, Italy, France and Germany had to go through a 14-day quarantine.

Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan has barred entry for all foreigners and departures by locals.

Venezuela
On March 12, Venezuela announced it would cancel all flights from Europe, Colombia, Panama and the Dominican Republic for at least 30 days. The country has also announced a nationwide quarantine.

Yemen
On March 14, the internationally-recognised government of war-torn Yemen said it would suspend all flights to and from airports under its control for two weeks starting on March 18.

A statement from the office of Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed said the move exempted flights for humanitarian purposes. The key airports his government controls are in Aden, Sayoun and Mukalla.

Current track

Title

Artist

Cookie Policy

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT

Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.